The Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) is regarded as the world’s largest spider. With a legspan measuring up to 11 inches (30 cm), this species of spider is native to the rain forests of South America, primarily in Venezuela, Guyana, and northern Brazil.
As the name suggests, Goliath birdeaters also have a very diverse diet, consuming a range of food items, including frogs, small birds, rodents, and even other spiders. In fact, they sometimes hunt down prey as large as lizards and snakes.
This species of spider is also quite distinct in terms of its physical features. It boasts a fuzzy, brownish gray body, claw-like legs, and bright yellow-orange stripes. It is worth noting that while this spider is huge and menacing-looking, it is considered to be harmless to humans.
Is there a spider bigger than the Goliath Birdeater?
Yes, there are spiders that are larger than the Goliath Birdeater. The biggest spider in terms of mass and size is the Giant Huntsman spider, also known as the Giant Wood Spider. This species of spider was discovered in 2001 and is found in caves in Laos and Thailand.
It measures about 30 to 35 centimeters (12 to 14 inches) in diameter and has a legspan of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches). This makes it larger than the Goliath Birdeater, which has a legspan of up to 28 centimeters (11 inches).
Additionally, some other species of spiders also have larger legspans than the Goliath Birdeater, such as the Carolina Wolf Spider, the Camel Spider, and the Giant House spider. However, the Giant Huntsman Spider is still the largest species of spider in terms of size and mass.
Did giant spiders ever exist?
No, giant spiders never existed. While there have been species of large spiders, such as the the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider which can reach a leg span of up to 11 inches (28 centimeters), they are nowhere near the size of the giant spiders that are commonly featured in movies and books.
The largest spider fossil ever found was a 340 million year old Protoctista fossil that measured only 1.2 centimeters in length. This fossil does not possess any characteristics that distinguish it as a spider.
Instead, it is a type of creature that is believed to be ancestral to both spiders and mites which do not have the same anatomy as spiders. Scientists have also found a collection of giant spider-like tracks from the Carboniferous period (300 million years ago) in Scotland.
While these tracks display characteristics that suggest they were made by a relative of spiders, there is too little evidence to definitively state that giant spiders ever existed.
Do goliath bird eaters bite humans?
No, goliath bird eaters do not bite humans. The goliath bird eater (Theraphosa blondi) is actually a species of tarantula, and it is considered to be the largest species of spider in the world. It has earned its name because of its size and its diet which includes both birds and small mammals but does not include humans.
The goliath bird eater does possess a quite powerful set of fangs, however their venom is relatively harmless for humans, and their attitude towards defense is to run away or rub their prominent spines against their aggressors.
So, even though they can look intimidating, they are not likely to bite humans unless they are being severely provoked.
Is the Goliath Birdeater poisonous?
No, the Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) is not poisonous. Although it does have tiny hairs on its body which contain a painful venom, it is not venomous or poisonous in the same way that some spiders and snakes are.
Discs at the ends of the hairs contain formic acid which is released when they come in contact with the human skin, causing an intense burning and itching sensation. Even though the hairs may cause irritation to humans, they are not considered to be deadly or poisonous.
How big was Megarachne?
Megarachne was an extinct genus of large eurypterid from the Carboniferous Period of northeastern Italy. It had a size estimated up to 70 centimeters (28 inches) in length, making it one of the largest eurypterids to have ever lived.
Megarachne’s body was long and flat, and its front-most appendages had numerous spines, which may have been used for defense and/or capturing prey. Its eight to twelve pairs of appendages below the head also had comb-like structures, which were used to help paddle through the water.
Megarachne’s limbs and claws were adapted for both swimming and walking on the seabed. Its head was protected by a large shield-like carapace, which measured 20 to 25 centimeters (7.9 to 9.8 inches) in diameter, suggesting that Megarachne was well-armored against predators.
How big is the Goliath spider?
The Goliath spider (Theraphosa blondi) is arguably one of the largest spiders in the world. On average, they can measure up to around 11 inches in body length and have legs that sprawl up to 12 inches long.
Their body is usually around 4 inches wide and a full-grown Goliath spider can weigh as much as 6 ounces. To put this into perspective, some have compared the size of this spider to that of a small puppy or a dinner plate.
As for their web, it is believed that their web could span up to 3 feet in diameter which is incredibly impressive considering its size. Despite their intimidating size, the Goliath spider is actually quite harmless to humans.
What states have big spiders?
Many states across the United States have spiders that are larger than the average arachnid. Most notably, states found in the southeastern region of the US, such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina, are known to have some of the largest species of spiders.
Other states such as Texas and Arkansas are also home to many spiders, but most of these are much smaller than those found in the Southeast. In California, the Golden Orb Weaver spider is found in many parts of the state and can grow up to 4 inches in size.
Other states, like New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are also home to large spiders. Some of the biggest spiders found in the United States include the Wolf Spider, the Carolina Wolf Spider, and the Southern House Spider.
Where do huntsman spiders live in the US?
Huntsman spiders are found in a variety of habitats in the US. Generally they prefer warm, dry climates and tend to be most common in the Southwest and Southeast regions. They can also be found in parts of the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, and Hawaii.
Huntsman spiders thrive in warm, dry climates and can often be found in woodpiles, around windows and doors, and under rocks. They often seek shelter in dark, damp places, such as foliage-coated walls or in attics or sheds.
They are also known to inhabit areas of walls or ceilings and can frequently be found underneath logs, rocks, and debris.
